WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio likes his team's resilience.
Now it's time to develop a knockout punch.
Connor Cook threw three touchdown passes and Nick Hill ran for two scores Saturday, but No. 8 Michigan State still needed a late interception return for a touchdown to hold on 45-31 at Purdue

CAREER NOTES: Four-year letterwinner saw action in 49 career games, including 30 starts (22 at right tackle, five at left tackle, three at center).

2016 SEASON (SENIOR): Started 11 games (center vs. Furman, Notre Dame, Wisconsin; left tackle vs. BYU, Northwestern, Maryland, Michigan; right tackle vs. Indiana, Rutgers, Ohio State, Penn State) . . . missed the Illinois game due to an injury . . . named the team’s offensive recipient of the President’s Award (Senior Lineman/Senior Back Perseverance) . . . started at right tackle in Ohio State game and registered two knockdowns . . . returned to action and starting lineup vs. Rutgers, starting at right tackle, logging half a knockdown plus one dominator . . . started Michigan game at left tackle, registering two knockdowns . . . started at left tackle vs. BYU and posted 1.5 knockdowns, including half a dominator, before leaving late in the first half with an injury . . . was named the fourth captain for the Indiana game . . . started against Indiana at right tackle, logging five knockdowns . . . started at center in Wisconsin game, recording two knockdowns . . . was the Spartans’ starting center at Notre Dame, earning the Spartans’ Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance, registering one dominator and three knockdowns . . . started at center for the first time in his career vs. Furman game and registered four knockdowns.

2015 SEASON (JUNIOR): Started 11 games on the offensive line (10 at right tackle, one at left tackle) . . . had 45.5 knockdowns in nine regular-season games . . . started the first two games at right tackle but suffered a knee injury in the first half of the Oregon game and missed the next three games (Air Force, Central Michigan, Purdue) . . . returned to action in Week 6 against Rutgers at left tackle . . . assumed his regular starting role at right tackle at Michigan in Week 7 . . . credited with eight knockdowns and posted a Big Ten Championship grade vs. Penn State, as MSU held the Nittany Lions without a sack for the first time all season . . . named Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week after grading out at a Big Ten Championship level with five knockdowns vs. Maryland . . . posted a winning grade and had four knockdowns at Nebraska . . . named Spartan Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week vs. Indiana in Week 8; graded out as a winner and had 7.5 knockdowns against the Hoosiers . . . compiled eight knockdowns and played 70 snaps in the win over the Wolverines . . . returned to action in Week 6 at Rutgers, starting his first career game at left tackle; played 55 snaps against the Scarlet Knights and was credited with six knockdowns . . . had five knockdowns in the season opener at Western Michigan.

2014 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Played in all 13 games, including eight starts at right tackle (Jacksonville State, Oregon, Eastern Michigan, Wyoming, Nebraska, Indiana, Penn State and Baylor) . . . collected a career-high 70 knockdowns, including five dominators . . . didn't allow a sack all season . . . ranked fourth on the offensive line with 768 snaps . . . named to ESPN.com Big Ten All-Bowl Team after helping the Spartans rack up 552 yards of total offense and 238 rushing yards, both of which are the second-highest single-game totals in Spartan bowl history, in the win over No. 4 Baylor in the Cotton Bowl Classic; had 6.5 knockdowns in 90 plays against the Bears . . . collected five knockdowns vs. Rutgers . . . matched his career high with seven knockdowns in 80 snaps in win at Indiana as MSU rushed for 330 yards . . . although he didn't start, was named the Spartan Offensive Lineman of the Week at Purdue after collecting six knockdowns in 44 snaps . . . posted the highest grade among Spartan offensive lineman in the Nebraska game and recorded three knockdowns . . . had 6.5 knockdowns vs. Wyoming, including a team-best two dominators, as the Spartans rushed for 338 yards against the Cowboys . . . recorded five knockdowns in the win over Eastern Michigan as the Spartans rushed for 336 yards and didn't allow a sack . . . produced seven knockdowns in his first career start at right tackle in the season opener vs. Jacksonville State, as MSU rolled up 565 total yards . . . moved into a starting role after right guard Connor Kruse suffered an injury in the second preseason scrimmage, moving Donavon Clark from right tackle to right guard.

2013 SEASON (RED-SHIRT FRESHMAN): Appeared in all 14 games, primarily on special teams, to earn his first letter.

2012 SEASON: Redshirted.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Named to SuperPrep's and PrepStar's All-Midwest Teams . . . rated among the state's top seniors by 247Sports.com (No. 19), The Detroit News (No. 22), Lansing State Journal (No. 22), ESPN.com (No. 23), Detroit Free Press (No. 28) and Rivals.com (No. 28) . . . selected to play in the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association 2012 East-West All-Star Game . . . three-year starter for Coach Kent Sikora at Carlson High School in Gibraltar, Michigan . . . Detroit Free Press Division 3 all-state selection . . . honorable mention all-state selection by The Associated Press and The Detroit News . . . named to The Detroit News All-Metro West, All-Downriver Dream Team as well as Monroe Evening News All-Region Dream Team Offense . . . recorded 18 pancake blocks and did not allow a sack as a senior . . . credited with 53 tackles, including four sacks, 10 quarterback hurries and a pass break-up in 2011 . . . named to Detroit Free Press All-West Team, Monroe Evening News All-Region Dream Team and first-team All-Downriver as a junior . . . produced 49 tackles, including two sacks, in 2010 . . . contributed 36 tackles as a sophomore, with nine resulting in losses including two sacks . . . also participated in baseball, basketball and wrestling . . . son of Sean and Kimberly Baker . . . born Feb. 24, 1994 . . . majoring in interdisciplinary studies in social science - human capital and society.